Minnow-bucket



nfrnnr JAMES M. KERSEY, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

MlNNow-BUCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,476, dated February 13, 1894. Application led March 18, 1893. Serial No. 466.733. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that LJAMES M. KERSEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MinnowBuckets5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact. description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in minnow buckets, by means of which a bucket is provided being simple in construction, durable, effective for the purpose designed, and cheap in first cost.

More particularly my invention relates to a bucket, in which it is designed that minnows shall be `kept, and is provided with such special construction different from the usual bucket used for that purpose, as will enable one using the same to preserve and keep alive minnows in the water therein for along period of time.

My invention consists essentially of an ordinary cylindrical or other shaped receptacle within which is carried a similarly formed receptacle which may be independent, so far as construction is concerned, of the inclosing bucket or receptacle or it may be made a part thereof by simply making the one within the other and providing an annular space between the two receptacles of the respective sides thereof which is designed for an airchamher and said annular space being closed at top and bottom that it may be substantially airtight. The inner receptacle is designed to contain water in which the minnows are placed and preserved, the purpose of the structure being to provide a means of aerating and keeping cool the water within the inner receptacle, so that it will provide such a condition in the water that the lives of the minnows will be greatly prolonged; the cooling purpose is accomplished by the provision of the annular space, and the aerating purpose is accomplished by the provision of suitable means of injecting air into the annular air space, and to retain it therein, and the provision of a connecting pipe opening from the air-chamber into water receptacle for conducting the air, within the said air space,into the water receptacle; and the provision of a valve in said pipe for regulating the escape of such air, or for preventing its escape from the air-receptacle; and my invention further consists of the provision of a perforated plate within the water receptacle, and having a rod connected therewith designed to be carried at the lower part of said water receptacle, with the rod extending without to a point above the surface, that the said plate may be raised to the surface of the water that it may draw minnows out of the water so as to prevent the necessity of ones running the hand down into the water, and of certain other minor features of detail unnecessary here to be enumerated.

That my invention may be more fully understood reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a plan view of the bucket. Fig. is a vertical section through the line X, X,

ig. l.

In the gures, A refers to the main receptacle or outer bucket.

B is an inner bucket or water receptacle.

E is an inclosing rim er face which effectw ally closes the space between the two receptacles and provides the annular air space C.

F is an inlet pipe opening into the air-chamber C, which is provided with the valve a.

G is an air-bulb connected with inlet pipe F, and is designed to force air through the inlet pipe F, when the valve a, is opened into the air-chamber C, and pui-posed to fill the same, or to provide a large supply therein that may not soon be exhausted, and the forcing of the air in by means of the bulb G,

will cause the air to be condensed, the provision of valve a, being that when a sufficient quantity of air has been forced into the airreceptacle, the valve may be turned to close the inlet pipe and prevent its escape therethrough.

H is a pipe connected with the air space at one end, and opening into the Water receptacle B, at its other extremity, and as here shown the main pipe H is carried in the vertical position as shown in the drawings, with the portion H' provided with a valve b, the portion H2 opening into the air-receptacle, and the portion H3 opening into the wateru receptacle at ythe bottom portion thereof, the valve b, being provided to prevent or regulate the escape of air from the air-receptacle into the water receptacle.

I is a perforated plate designed to fit within the water receptacle and is provided with the legs t', c', t', for holding it some little distance from the bottom, and with the rod K, provided with loop c, for raising the same out of the water.

In order to apply this bucket to practical use, the bucket having first been constructed as herein shown and described, there being provided the outer receptacle, the inner receptacle for water, the closing of the space between to provide the annular air-chamber, the inlet pipe and air-bulb for filling the airchamber, and by connecting the air-chamber with the Water receptacle and the valves for closing the inlet and outlet pipes for the regulating of the passage of the air therethrough and the water receptacle; for the purpose of keeping the water cool the structural provisions are such as to accomplish that end, namely: the provision of annular air space between the outside receptacle and the water receptacle, but for the purpose of aerating the water by passing air constantly through it, and keeping the body ot'- water constantly in motion, air is forced into the air-chamber C, and through the inlet pipe F, and by means of the air-bulb G, the valve d, of course, being turned to open the inlet pipe, and when the receptacle C is supplied with the quantity of air desired the valve a, is turned which will prevent the escape of the air therethrough, and it will be so confined with in the air-chamber C, and when it may be desired to pass air through the water in the water receptacle, it will only be necessary to turn the valve b, when the air will pass from the air-chamber through the connecting pipe and into the water as shown in the drawings,

and if the pipe be carried at the lowest point the air will be obliged to pass through the entire body which will produce movement therein, and will tend to keep the same always pure and thoroughly aerated, and the quantity of air desired to be passed through the water is regulated by the turning of the valve b, and if but a small quantity is desired to be passed through, the valve may be turned but slightly and turned proportionately for larger quantities.

The device constructed in pursuance of the illustration herein shown may be applied with a sufficient quantity of air by a number of compressions of the bulb G that will supply a constant iiow of air through the Water receptacle for a number of hours, thus completely aerating or purifying the water.

It will be seen from the above method, by means of which the water within the receptacle is aerated, that minnows therein contained will be supplied with water in such condition as will tend to prolong their lives almost as effectually as though they were in the water of a living stream as the same conditions are artificially provided herein for the water as exists naturally in the water of a stream.

The theoretical point, which the device is purposed to operate to accomplish the aerating of the water to make it a habitable element for the minnows, is Iirst, thatk the construction of the receptacle is such that water within will be kept cool, thus preserving the microbe upon which the minnows subsist, and the passage of the air through the water keeps it constantly supplied so as to prevent stagnation.

The perforated plate I, provided with rod K is designed for use in any minnow bucket whether the said bucket is constructed in accordance with the drawings and description accompanying, as it would be useful when applied to any such bucket.

The bulb G used in connection with the minnow bucket, and connected with the air reservoir C for the purpose of filling the same with air to be used to vitalize and agitate the water in receptacle B, is the ordinary syringe bulb, which has of course the usual perforation in the neck thereof with communication from the bulb with the outer air so that a constant supply of fresh air is had, so that when the bulb is compressed the valve or cut-oft connecting the said bulb with the airchamber being turned to admit the air into such air-chamber, the air will be forced therein, and when expanded will draw air from the general atmosphere filling the same when the process of compressing will force another quantity within the reservoir and so on until a sufficient quantity has been supplied, when the valve connection between the bulb and reservoir is turned to provide the escape of the air so forced into the reservoir and it will be admitted into the air receptacle B, whenever desired for the purpose of vitalizing and agitating the air by simply turning the valve connection between the reservoir and the water receptacle for its admission into said water receptacle in quantities and at whatever times may be desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. In a minnow bucket the air reservoir E, supplied with air by suitable means, and connected with the water receptacle B, by means of a tube whereby the air in the said reservoir may be fed into the water receptacle, and the quantity of air so supplied regulated by suitable cut-oft` mechanism.

2. In a minnow bucket, the combination with a water receptacle of an air reservoir connected therewith by a suitable tube, opening into the same at its lower portion, the air reservoir provided with suitable mechanism for forcing the air therein whereby the air so forced into the reservoir because of its condensed condition may be fed therefrom into the water receptacle through the tube con- ICC IIO

neotion, the iow of air from the air reservoir connected therewith by suitable tubes prointc the water receptacle being regulated by vided with cuto valve, and supplied with suitable cut-OEE valve. air by suitable mechanism, and the lifter 3. In a minnow bucket, the combination, of formed of parte I and K as shown. 5 the Water receptacle B, the air reservoir E, Intestimony whereof Iaiiix my signature in x 5 connected by tube H, vprovided with cut-off presence of two Witnesses. valve b, and suitable mechanism for forcing YJ AMES M. KERSEY. air into the reservoir E. o Witnesses:

4. In a minnow bucket, the combination, of AMOS DIXON,

tho the waiter receptacle B, of the air resorvoirE, MABLE TEFFT. 

